Wateb-gage for steam-boilers



EL?. Z.

MPETERS. POTCLLIT HOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D C,

UNITED STATES yPATENT OFFICE.

LUCIUS PAIGE, OF CAVENDISH, VERMONT.

WATER-GAGE FOR STEAM-BOILERS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 15,617, dated August 26, 1856.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUcIUs PAIGE, of Cavendish, in the county of Windsorand State of Vermont, have invented an Improved Vater-Gage for.Steam-Boilers; and I do hereby declare that the same is fully describedand represented in the following specification and the accompanyingdrawings, of which- Figure l, is a front elevation of the same as itappears when its curved slide is opened or is within the niche or recessto be hereinafter described. Fig. 2, is a horizontal section taken undersuch circumstances. Fig. 3, is another horizontal section, exhibitingthe curved slide as turned around so as to cover the niche. Fig. 4, is avertical, central and longitudinal section of the said water gage and aportion of the boiler to which it may be applied.

In these drawings A, exhibits the tubular Agage having combined with ita separate chamber or vessel B, connected with it and the boiler in suchmanner, that water and steam from the water and steam spaces of theboiler may flow into the said auxiliary chamber and from thence into thegage.

C, denotes the boiler; while D, and E are pipes leading, from thenceinto the upper and lower parts of the auxiliary chamber; the pipes bywhich said gage and the chamber are connected being shown at F, and G,each being provided with a stop cock, a, or, b.

The object of the auxiliary chamber is to overcome a dificulty which isincident to the ordinary glass tube gage when such is direct-lyconnected at both of its ends with the boiler by means of pipesrespectively provided with stopcocks. It is well known, that with awater gage of such construction, it often becomes difficult to determinethe actual height of the water in the boiler not only on account ofebullition that is likely to take place in the glass tube, but moreespecially by reason of foaming water in the boiler, incrustation andother causes well known to engineers. The purpose of the auxiliarychamber is to diminish such causes of disturbance of the properoperations of the tube, and its method of action in order to effectsuch, may be considered to be well known to engineers. In applying suchauxiliary air chamber to they gage A, I extend it partially around thesame so as to form about said gage a niche or space II, which I vof twoannular plates, c, c, united together by a` plate d bent in the shape ofa semicircle in cross section and with respect to the inner surface -ofthe niche or so as to it into the same as shown in Fig. 3. In applyingthe cover to the gage its annular plates, c, c, may respectivelyencompass and rotate `on the metallic heads, f, g, of the gage.

Making the inclosing chamber, B, 1n manner as sety forth and providingit with a cover or movable part in manner as described enabling us touncover the gage so as to see its contents whenever it may be desirableto do so-as at other times, the gage may be kept entirely covered, suchbeing of service in protecting it from injury, as well4 as for otherpurposes.

I do not make the body part of the gage of one single tube of glass, butconstruct the same of a series of such tubes or sections as shown at,la., L, and with connection rings, z', z', placed between them orarranged as shown in Figs. 1, and 4,-each of said rings being formedwith seats or annular recesses m, a', (in their upper and under sides)for the reception of the ends of the glass sectional tube or tubes, whenapplied to the rings as shownA in the drawings. And instead of makingbut one series of said tubes arranged with their axes in a straight linewith one another, I construct the gage with two series of glass tubes asshown at h h hi, and t, 71.', L, every tube of one series being made toencircleone of the tubes of the other series.

The objects I have had in view in so constructing a gage, may thus bestated. In case one of the tubes of the inner series should becomebroken the tube surrounding it will prevent the escape of steam andenable the gage to be continued in use until a more convenientopportunity to repair it shall occur. Furthermore should any one of thetubes of the external set become broken, the inner tube thereof willsustain the column of tubes and enable the gage to be continued in use.Furthermore, by making the gage of several separate glass tubes insteadof one long glass tube, there is not much danger of its being broken, orgetting out of order in consequence of contraction and expansion whileits temperature varies from time to time when the gage is in use.

The gage is supported in position by projections, 7;, 7c, extending fromthe auxiliary chamber or niche such with said chamber constituting atrame for supporting the gage and enabling its lower head or cap g, tobe forced upward by the action of a screw, Z, working in a female screw,m, the whole being arranged as shown in Fig. 4. By forcing the capsrings and glass tubes close together their joints will be rendered steamand water tight, particularly if white lead or other suitable cement befirst placed between them.

By inclosing the glass gage with a niche as described, the heat radiatedfrom the sides or inner surface of the niche may be employed togradually increase the temperature of the gage prior to the water andsteam being suiiered to enter the same. It is well known, that the glasstubes of gages are most liable to become cracked or injured when hotwater or steam is sufered to How suddenly into them, and particularlywhen they are in a cool state.

By my improvement it will be seen that the gage may be warmed or heated,prior to being made to receive the contents of the boiler. This may bedone, when the niche is open, although it may be accomplished to muchbetter advantage after the cover of the niche has been drawn around infront of the glass gage and so as to close up the niche. For the purposeof cleansing the gage or of discharging from it any sediment or matterswhich may be deposited therein, I provide with a blow cock m, the lowertube by which it is connected with the auxiliary chamber.

I do not herein claim combining with the gage A, a separate receivingchamber, B, arranged between it and the boiler and connected to both, bypipes, but

That I do claim is l. Applying the said chamber, B, or arranging itlwith respect to the gage so that it shall partially surround the sameand form a niche or recess, H, to receive such gage and radiate heatupon it toward its axis for the purpose hereinbefore specified, the saidrecess, I-I, being provided or not, as the case may require, with thecurved cover or slider I, made to operate therewith substantially as setforth.

2. I also claim constructing the gage in tubular sections of glass orother suitable transparent material in combination with providing thesame with a clamp frame or apparatus, l'and connection rings and capssubstantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature.

LUCIUS PAIGE. IVitnesses Oris ROBBINS, A. G. FLETCHER.

